International Literacy Day

During this International Literacy Day, the Burger King Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the BURGER KING® BRAND, is honored to celebrate its achievements in advancing education for students globally. In 1967, UNESCO proclaimed September 8th as International Literacy Day to remind us all that literacy is more than just a basic skill; it’s a pathway to personal empowerment, social inclusion and economic progress.  

This year’s theme, “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’” emphasizes the importance of literacy as a cornerstone for sustainable development. With literacy challenges varying across regions, the Burger King Foundation has partnered with area organizations to support literacy and education projects globally by building schools and libraries, and supporting awareness and education campaigns around crucial local topics.

In alignment with this year's theme focusing on a sustainable future, the Burger King Foundation has supported virtual literacy initiatives to narrow the digital divide. The COVID-19 crisis disrupted the current teaching and learning styles, leaving 1.6 billion children and youth without in-person learning during that year. However, teachers and students across the globe found alternative ways to continue schooling, often turning to digital learning. The Burger King Foundation, through the partnership with Room to Read, successfully supported students and teachers with digital resources and distance learning to ensure schooling went uninterrupted.  

In India and Sri Lanka, one program the Foundation was able to activate was the Literacy Cloud digital library. This program provides access to more than 200 high-quality children’s books published in the students’ local language. In addition, teachers can access professional development resources to create a culture of reading for early learners in low-income communities.

Take a look at some of the Foundation digital books using the links below!

Elephant and Egg: https://literacycloud.org/stories/2943-elephant-and-egg/

The Lost Doll: https://literacycloud.org/stories/1325-the-lost-doll/

The King of Mkolokolo: https://literacycloud.org/stories/588-the-king-of-mkolokolo/